The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-11-03


will not do.
Now, I appeal to you, once for all, set your
faces against this sectionalism. If the Repub-
lican leaders want to put an end to the Solid
South, there is the easiest way in the world
to do it. They can do it in brief enough
time, assure you. All they have to do is
to cease to create and to seek to perpetuate
a Solid North, and the Solid South will dis
solve. (Applause).
As I said to you before, nearly half the
south was once opposed to the Democratic
party, and then half the north opposed to the
Democratic party. Now, when they have
got control of almost every northern State;
now, when there are but few Democratic
States in the north, the south, in self-defense,
is a solid Democratic community, but let them
take off the weight that they have imposed
on the people of the north; let them cease
their demands to rule, not merely the people
of the south, but to rule the millions OF
northern Democrats, for it is not the people
of the south alone that they would plant their
heel upon, but they would plant it upon the
necks of all the Democracy of the north; it is
upon the necks of the Democracy of the north
that they desire to plant that heel, too. (Ap-
plause). Let them cease to do that; let the
country come back to what it was years ago,and
then you will have no Solid North and no Solid
South, but each section, each State for itself,
will judge as it did then, whether to vote the
Democratic or whether to vote the Republi-
can ticket. So they can put an end to the
Solid South just when they please. But they
do not want to put an end to it. They want
the Solid South in order to give them pre-
text for having Solid North more powerful
than the south, and by means of that Solid
Republican North to rule not only the south,
but to rule every Democratic State in the
north, from one end to the other.
I do not give them credit, therefore, for sin
cerity when they talk about Solid South I
do not give them credit for patriotism when
they endeavor to incite the people of the
north against the people of the south by this
cry which is only heard, as believe, for the
purpose of making Solid North, and per-
petuating the Rule of the Republican party.
Enough of that theme.
LOVE AND RESPECT THE CONsTITU-
TION.
Now, my friends, want to say few words,
and find must shorten my remarks for I am
getting exhausted-the poor old fellow is not
what he once was; he was pretty long-winded
once, but he is not SO any longer. Now, the
next thing want to urge upon you is love
and respect for your constitution. It was
thought by many persons that the discovery,
if it may be called such, of written constitu-
hons would be an effectual protection to the
people for all time to come, and as that was
almost an American institution-the written
constitutions there were ten written con-
stitutions in America to where there was one
in any other part of the world, our fore
fathers placed great reliance upon the exist
ence of these written constitutions, and for q
long time they served their purpose and
served it well. But we have found by ex.
perience that the plainest language of a writ
ten constitution is insufficient in times oi
great excitement or war, or when great in
terests are involved, to protect the people
against the expressions of government Why
the constitution of the United States, as it il
now interpreted, is as different from what il
was when I was a boy almost as daylight il
from darkness.
Then it was settled in the minds of every
man who wrote upon the subject that the gen
eral government had no powers but such al
were expressly conferred upon it by the con
stitution, or as resulted by necessary impGca
ton. Now, the very contrary doctrine hal
been announced from even the highest ju
dicial seats in the Republic. And now there
are men in Congress, and am sorry to say
that there are some Judges, who act con
stantly upon the theory that Congress ma.
do whatever it is not forbidden to do. No
tha. it can only do what it is authorized Il
do, but that it may do whatever it is not for
hidden to do. Let this doctrine prevail; lie
this doctrine once get firm hold in thi
country snd where then will there be an,
such thing as Home Rule. One of the creates
blessings the American people enjoy is il
their State governments; their home rule il
almost everything that concerns their domesti
welfare and their property and life. By wha
law does your child inherit your farm whel
you die? By the law of the State of Ohio
By what law do you find redress if MAJ
commits an assault upon you, or a trespas
upon your property? By the law of the Stat
of Ohio. By what law do you raise money t
educate your children? By the law of tn
State of Ohio. But if this doctrine is to pre-
vail that Congress can do anything that
not expressly forbidden it by the Constitution
then this local government that you hav'
and which has been such an infinite advaI
tage to you will ere long fall into utter rui
and decrepitude. But cannot speak of ths
I A. = fob